The long-running saga appears to finally be over after the planning reporter upheld South Lanarkshire Council’s decision not to grant Magic Wash planning permission

The controversial Burnside car wash looks set to close after the Scottish Government threw out a planning appeal.

The long-running saga appears to finally be over after the planning reporter upheld South Lanarkshire Council’s decision not to grant Magic Wash planning permission.

At a planning committee in November, Magic Wash were denied a change of use application from a filling station to a car wash.

As the temporary consent, granted on November 6, 2012, had expired, the car wash was ordered to cease operation.

The news came as great relief to residents of Stonelaw Towers, who had made a host of complaints against the facility, including water running onto Stonelaw Road, cars blocking the box junction, the noise of the compressor and the facility operating outwith their operating hours.

When the site originally opened in April last year, its colour scheme of red and yellow stripes drew many complaints from locals, including comparisons with a “circus tent”.

However the operators responded to the complaints, and repainted it white.

Andrew McFarlane (83), who lives at Stonelaw Towers, was delighted to hear the news: “I’m over the moon. The noise from the power hose they’ve got goes in to your head all the time and then when you’re walking past it you get sprayed. It’s hectic. It’s been the best news I’ve heard for quite a while.”

Chair of Burnside Community Council Jim Neill said: “I’m sure the residents of Stonelaw Towers will be relieved that the reporter has dismissed this appeal.

“We hope lessons have been learned with regards to locating a car wash so close to residential properties.”

Magic Wash launched an appeal against the council decision, however it was announced last week that the Scottish Government supported the council’s decision.

The car wash now have until April 17 to cease operation.

However, there is one final appeal Magic Wash could make, which is a legal appeal to the Court of Session. The council would be unable to undertake enforcement action while the court is considering the appeal, meaning the car wash would be allowed to operate until that time.

Liberal Democrat councillor Robert Brown said: “I hope the operators will now accept the decision and cease operating as soon as possible. On any view, Burnside shopping area near to houses in Stonelaw Road and Stonelaw Court is not a satisfactory place for a car wash.”

Michael McGlynn, South Lanarkshire’s head of planning and building standards, said: “The council would welcome this decision from the Scottish Government which endorses the decision made by the planning committee in November 2013.

“As detailed in the decision notice, the compliance period has been set by the reporter at six weeks so all operations are required to cease by 17 April 2014.”

The Reformer made several attempts to contact Magic Wash but were unsuccessful.

However Sheban Rehman, who is a representative of Magic Wash, had previously said: “We have met every single point (of the complaints).”

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